CITY ACCEPTS MILITARY VEHICLE

The Brenham police department now has a tactical military style vehicle that Police Chief Rex Phelps says can be used to protect law enforcement officers and even rescue people in emergencies.

This Mine Resistant Ambush Vehicle has been delivered to the Brenham Police Department.

Police Chief Rex Phelps said the MRAP is not a sign of the 'militarization of the police department.'

Phelps told today’s (Thursday’s) meeting of the Brenham City Council that they have already taken delivery of a Mine Resistant Ambush Protection vehicle from the now closed BAE plant from Sealy.

He said the $733,000 vehicle comes to the city free of charge and satisfies the concerns of the police department’s SWAT Team, which he says, has been wanting such a vehicle for many years. He said the MRAP would allow police officers in tactical situations to be protected from virtually all domestic type weaponry. The MRAP could allow law enforcement officers to get close enough to stop a deadly situation. Phelps went on to say that such vehicles are getting to be commonplace among law enforcement agencies across the nation.

Phelps also addressed concerns that this is a sign of the ‘militarization of the police department.

Mayor Pro-Tem Gloria Nix said accepting this vehicle was a ‘win, win’ for the city, even after questions about the cost of maintenance, and a question about the cost of the tires, and the city council agreed to accept the vehicle.

Phelps said that if the city ever believed that the vehicle was too costly, they could always return it.

Phelps said they had to accept the vehicle as soon as it was offered and it is now in the possession of the police department.

6 reader comments:

Well first off, I guess not one of you people that have commented on this care about the police of this city. Okay, the city I’d given a free MRAP which many other departments have obtained across the nation. Guess what your tax dollars paid for it so what’s the problem when it’s actually being used, and not just taken out of service and scrapped. Even though there hasn’t been a situation where this has been needed in brenham, but I like knowing the fact that the equipment is there if it does happen. Also MRAP tires do not cost $6k so you know. Also I’m pretty sure they’re not going to be changing the tires out on it any time soon. As far as regular maintenance on the MRAP it has a Diesel engine. You would do regular maintenance on it that you would do to any Diesel engine. You shouldn’t worry about the transmission because they run an Allison transmission in those as well. Like I said earlier as I reiterate again it is obvious that not one of you care about the police officers. God knows known of them have children. God knows that they don’t have families. God forbid that they protect you when not one of you care about anything that happens to them. I am happy that the police department obtained a FREE piece of equipment that has already been paid for by everyone’s tax dollars. I am happy that our police officers are better protected, and are better equipped to protect us from any type of situation. Also look at the shooting that took place in College Station 2 years ago. The other officers that where shot by the gunman could have been protected by some type of armored vehicle. That happened only 40 minutes away from here. Just because you don’t think anything will happen in Brenham, doesn’t mean that it won’t. God Bless the Police that protect us. Bless all the other first responders that assist the citizens of Brenham and Washington county. Even though some people obviously don’t appreciate your services or your lives. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO!!

Citizen,
Yes, I know a lot of the city cops and have known them for the past 6 decades. For just what purpose do you think they need this heavily armored vehicle? Are the Taliban going to attack the court house in Brenham? I doubt it. And just in case they do I bet there are enough rifles among the citizens of this county to re-take the courthouse should need be. Just some more of our tax money being thrown out the window! And that oil change and maintanance does cost us the tax payers money in both materials and time for a city employee to do it. The other scary thing is that in case there is ever civil unrest, who is that unit going to be used against- citizens?

The last thing he said was “This is NOT a military vehicle”??! WHAT!? Even the title of the article is CITY ACCEPTS MILITARY VEHICLE!
How often are the Brenham SWAT/police involved in situations where they NEED this?
No way is this “WIN/WIN”!

This is frightening to see our local PDs becoming militarized….absolutely frightening. What is it you people think we are going to do? Even the lovely community of Brenham is falling into the Stalinist mentality. What I fail to see is the history leading up to the perceived need for such a vehicle.

This is just one huge basket full of stupid…..the tires are made to crush anything that falls beneath them and cost as much as $6K each. I better not see my taxes go up to pay for this crap….an MRAP, for Brenham…..good grief. This is a toy for the “boys” and nothing more.

Yeah I would like to know what it’s going to cost for maintanence they don’t ever seem to think about that. All they see the fact that it was free but scheduled maintanence is not free and tires for that thing are not cheap here we go more of our tax money out the window!!!!